Pipe bomb defendant seeks dismissal of terrorism allegation in federal court

Brian Cole Jr., a Virginia resident arrested in December 2025 for placing pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters, is seeking to have a terrorism charge dismissed. The indictment, filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, includes an "Act of Terrorism" count that carries a potential life sentence. Cole’s counsel, John R. Glover of the firm Litson, argues the charge is flawed because it does not identify a specific government unit that Cole allegedly tried to influence, noting that party headquarters are not listed as such under D.C. Code Section 22-3152.

The motion, spanning 12 pages, asks Judge Amir Ali, a Biden appointee, to either drop the count or require a bill of particulars and tailored jury instructions. Prosecutors maintain the charge but declined to comment when approached for a response.